Carol Stanley, Guidance Counselor, Betsy Gorrell, Principal, Dina Palumbo, Action Team Chair
Don Lathem, Chris Farren, Betsy Gorrell (Principal, ATP Co-Chair), Jan Quinn, Vicki Lex-Booth, Carol Stanley (ATP Co-Chair), Dina Palumbo, Mary Kaforey.
Woodridge has been working in the National Network of Partnership Schools for over three years to build a family-friendly school for successful students. The leaders describe their school as one where “ideas are generated by families, teachers, and administrators,” and where Action Team members volunteer to conduct the activities planned in their Action Plans. The school has had three principals in three years and staff and family changes, but has been able to “build, expand, and empower team leadership” using the guidelines of the National Network of Partnership Schools.
Activities are linked to students' achievement and success, including increasing attendance. Families have many different kinds of activities to become involved and to become part of the school community. Some activities include an active web site with classroom web pages; Parent Clubs; child care and transportation to help families attend various activities; principal and teacher newsletters; an active PTO; Family Fitness Night; Ohio Reads Volunteer programs; Story Telling Time on the importance of reading (which, it is noted, attracted 130 people despite a blizzard); music assemblies; family play-therapy sessions; and many more. The leaders note that awards and recognitions are given throughout the year to note successes at the school.
The National Network of Partnership Schools suggested and encouraged us to form a highly functioning action team to address school, family, and community partnerships through a consistent format. Our school's planning meetings were structured to be more productive as a result of NNPS information and materials. NNPS provided us with the 'know how' to meet our needs...and outstanding resources for parent involvement.
--Carol Stanley, Woodridge Primary School